Boone Co. dismemberment victim identified

BOONE COUNTY, KY (FOX19) - The Boone County Sheriff's Office released a preliminary identification of the man who was killed and dismembered in Verona, Kentucky.

Officers say the victim is Daniel Delfin, 19, of Walton.

Officials identified Delfin using the description of his clothing, a tattoo, approximate size & weight, and the fact the perpetrators named him.

Three men, Jefferey Allen, 21, Anthony Baumgartner, 23, and Stephen Harkness, 22, were arrested Tuesday for Murder, Kidnapping, Abuse of a corpse, and Tampering with physical evidence in Delfin's death.

Officials believe the trio targeted Delfin because he was alleged to be a heroin dealer.

Boone County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Tom Scheben says the men picked up Delfin in Walton and then drove him to Verona. He say Delfin was beaten to death and strangled before being dismembered. Detectives found a machete and a saw blade near the alleged crime scene which are currently undergoing testing.